GUELPH – On Sept. 15 Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield announced $900,000 in funding for Second Chance under the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities (OF) to support the Women2Work project in Guelph and Wellington.
This funding is part of the $118 million announced in June 2023 to support 60 projects, which brings the Government’s total investment under the OF 2022 call for proposals to approximately $191 million.
MP Longfield made this announcement at Second Chance (Youth Resource Centre) in Guelph today.
Second Chance received $900,000 in funding under the OF to assist people with disabilities who face barriers to employment in Guelph and Wellington.
Second Chance will support women living with a disability with employment training, certifications, job placements and support from employment counsellors and job developers.
The OF brings together employers and employees with disabilities, to increase the participation of working-aged persons with disabilities in the workforce.
The objective of the program is to assist persons with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and keep employment, advance in their careers, or become self-employed.
Through the OF, more Canadians are able to achieve financial independence and participate in all aspects of society.
The funding supports the Government of Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan, specifically the employment pillar, and contributes to its ongoing commitment to create a truly inclusive Canada, free of physical, societal, and attitudinal barriers.
“Through the Opportunities Fund, we are creating inclusive workplaces and providing additional opportunities for persons with disabilities to connect with resources such as skills training and mentorship to help them succeed in the job market,” stated minister of diversity and inclusion, and persons with disabilities Kamal Khera in a press release.
“We know that when everyone, regardless of their abilities has a chance to succeed, our country, and our economy succeed,” Khera added.
Longfield said “Second Chance has been helping young people in Guelph facing barriers to employment for over 40 years.
“Chris Baginski-Hansen and her team are perfectly positioned to deliver support through the new Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, focused in particular to help women succeed in the job market.
“As the federal government expands its support for people with disabilities, I am very pleased to see Guelph connecting to this funding stream through the great work done by Second Chance.”
Executive director of Second Chance Employment Counselling (Wellington) Inc. Chris Baginski-Hansen said “The Women2Work project is about opportunities.
“Opportunities for women to expand their resources, build their confidence, their skills and to provide an atmosphere of supporting one another to succeed in the job market-and with this investment we can do just that.”
According to the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability, the employment rates of persons with disabilities are much lower than those of Canadians without disabilities —59 per cent versus 80%.
The Opportunities Fund (OF) helps persons with disabilities to overcome barriers by finding and keeping good jobs.
It also helps employers hire and retain employees with disabilities.
The OF funds a wide range of programs and services, including skills training, job search supports, pre-employability services, wage subsidies, work placements and hands-on supports to help employers create inclusive and accessible workplaces.
In Budget 2022, the Government of Canada committed $272.6 million over five years to support the implementation of an Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities through the Opportunities Fund.
